Myles Posted April 3, 2005 Share Posted April 3, 2005 I'm going to fail my MOT next w/e - no doubt about it. I failed it last year on the handbrake - and only made it through on the retest due to an oversight - I had my foot on the footbrake to give me some leverage to apply the under-dash lever... I've tried to do it properly this time - slackened off the cable so that the arms go onto their stops, pumped the brakes a few times/wound the pistons back, readjusted... No-joy. I can still push the car forward with the handbrake applied. Any bright ideas??? Project Scope-Creep is underway... Alcester Racing 7's Equipe - 🙆🏻™ Alcester-Racing-Sevens.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thinfourth Posted April 3, 2005 Share Posted April 3, 2005 idea 1 go to garage with really fat MOT tester and offer to sit in the car idea 2 The brakes on the back of a seven look identical to audi calipers from about 1990 vintage what i did with my audi to pass the test was to take caliper off and push the clyinder in and then wind it out so it just clears the pads then the pathetic little cam thing inside can grip the discs hard enough to pass an MOT Sod the heater wheres my shades Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Myles Posted April 3, 2005 Author Share Posted April 3, 2005 The MOT tester was quite keen to drive the car onto the rollers last-year... I've booked two sessions back-to-back as I will be going with another 7. Mebbe I should let the other 7 go first (he has an LSD) and then (perhaps) the tester will allow me to do a road brake-test instead (handbrake can't be tested from the cockpit... only one seat...) I'd prefer to get the damned thing working though. ☹️ Project Scope-Creep is underway... Alcester Racing 7's Equipe - 🙆🏻™ Alcester-Racing-Sevens.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Whitley Posted April 4, 2005 Share Posted April 4, 2005 There was a post about this suggesting that replacing the cables is the answer, apparently they lose their elasticity with age (tell me about it ) Whatever you do, make sure you note exactly how it goes together before taking it apart (see Se7enUp's post for the sad story). R500 driver. Oh all right. I have a Taylormade R500 Driver in my golf bag 😬 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Myles Posted April 4, 2005 Author Share Posted April 4, 2005 I'm not sure I buy that one - my understanding of how the handbrake mechanism works is that some sort of ratchet mechanism engages behind the piston in the caliper - the tension in the cable doesn't make much difference. Project Scope-Creep is underway... Alcester Racing 7's Equipe - 🙆🏻™ Alcester-Racing-Sevens.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JAG Posted April 4, 2005 Share Posted April 4, 2005 Myles; When you had the cables disconnected from the caliper did you pull the handbrake lever? Was there much drag in the cables/lever mechanism? That would be worth checking. The rear calipers used to hold a whole Sierra on a 30% incline - they should do a Caterham with plenty in reserve. If you're still having trouble give me a ring and we'll have a look together. If you don't have my number anymore drop me an email and I'll ring you. Justin A closed mouth gathers no foot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Myles Posted April 4, 2005 Author Share Posted April 4, 2005 Thanks Justin - I'll ring you tonight if I still have your number. I didn't test the drag/mechanism with the cables slackened off - but I'm definitely getting movement at the actuator arms. I'm guessing the mechanism isn't resetting fully. Project Scope-Creep is underway... Alcester Racing 7's Equipe - 🙆🏻™ Alcester-Racing-Sevens.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JAG Posted April 4, 2005 Share Posted April 4, 2005 Myles, try to make it before 7:15pm as I'm off out tonight. If the weather holds off I may even take my recently finished Se7enesque car Justin A closed mouth gathers no foot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Myles Posted April 4, 2005 Author Share Posted April 4, 2005 Pah! and Gak! YWHM - I've had another go after our discussion tonight. Don't book anything on Friday... Project Scope-Creep is underway... Alcester Racing 7's Equipe - 🙆🏻™ Alcester-Racing-Sevens.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graham Perry Posted April 4, 2005 Share Posted April 4, 2005 Slightly off topic but the technique of holding your foot hard on the brake and applying the hand brake lever is done every day many times at MOT testing stations by the ministry when doing HGV semi-trailer MOT's. Its usually the only way you can get the cable operated mechanical handbrakes to pull on hard enough on those, so I wouldn't be to worried about doing it on the seven. Agree with the others though, the calipers should be easily capable of holding a seven if they can hold a Sierra so it needs looking at. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Myles Posted April 4, 2005 Author Share Posted April 4, 2005 Mmm - I did actually try that this evening - no joy. Something is very, very wrong. ☹️ Project Scope-Creep is underway... Alcester Racing 7's Equipe - 🙆🏻™ Alcester-Racing-Sevens.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robert heywood Posted April 7, 2005 Share Posted April 7, 2005 Just had an mot and yes, failed on the handbrake,calipers apart for a check over, all ok, seems a lot of travel in the handbrake so start looking for a way of adjusting it up.........i might be stating the obvious to you that have been this way before but, under the 7 where the propshaft joins to the diff there is a big plastic adjuster for the handbrake cable, grab the bit towards the front of the 7 with a suitable pair of pliers and another pair of on the bit towards the rear of the seven, crack it apart and screw the piece towards the front in a clock wise direction untill all the slack is taken up, screw the bit towards the back into the bit towards the front :-) to lock it all back together. fingers crossed retest tommorow. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Myles Posted April 7, 2005 Author Share Posted April 7, 2005 Unfortunately, Bob, I get full movement of the actuators - they actually reach their stops, so there is nothing to be gained (AFAIK) by tightening the cable. I don't have any slack... It would just mean that my handbrake lever would take less of a pull before it ran out of travel - and would risk dragging the pads. This happened to me last year as well - and the MOT tester warned me that just playing with the cable wasn't the solution due to the mechanism inside the caliper needing to reset itself - I only passed because he let me sit in the car for the retest, and he started the machine while I still had my foot on the footbrake (to, legitimately, help apply the leverage needed to move the lever). I've just fitted new pads - and chamfered the edges so that they clear the lips at the edges of the braking area (due to wear). I'll probably give it a go on Saturday, but I suspect it will be a waste of the MOT fee. ☹️ Project Scope-Creep is underway... Alcester Racing 7's Equipe - 🙆🏻™ Alcester-Racing-Sevens.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CharlesElliott Posted April 7, 2005 Share Posted April 7, 2005 How much are two new rear calipers? 🙆🏻 Charles --- My SuperGraduates 2005 diary My Caterham Academy 2004 build and race diary Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Myles Posted April 7, 2005 Author Share Posted April 7, 2005 I suspect it's quite hard to find new ones - perhaps recon. I dunno how much they are - but I suspect they ain't cheap. Norman has suggested he might have a pair available though - so if I fail on Saturday, I'll give them a go (with luck)... Project Scope-Creep is underway... Alcester Racing 7's Equipe - 🙆🏻™ Alcester-Racing-Sevens.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
F355GTS Posted April 7, 2005 Share Posted April 7, 2005 Myles IIRC they are around £80ish a side from a factors Mark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Myles Posted April 7, 2005 Author Share Posted April 7, 2005 That's actually not bad (if true...) Project Scope-Creep is underway... Alcester Racing 7's Equipe - 🙆🏻™ Alcester-Racing-Sevens.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robert heywood Posted April 8, 2005 Share Posted April 8, 2005 Myles it worked, passed mot, i sat in with the rollers and didnt cheat........... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
owelly Posted April 10, 2005 Share Posted April 10, 2005 Perhaps if the pads are new, they just need bedding-in 🤔 its only a game......... http://daftlardycars.mysite.wanadoo-members.co.uk/ http://www.locostbuilders.co.uk/photos.php?action=gal&user=owelly Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Myles Posted April 10, 2005 Author Share Posted April 10, 2005 Owelly - I fitted new pads principally so that I'd have an excuse for poor brake performance - and the MOT tester went along with it (nice man). Even with brand-new pads, a handbrake mechanism that can hold a 1.4 tonne Sierra on a 1 in 3 hill (figures quoted by JAG) should be able to hold a 1/2 tonne Caterham on the flat with one moderately-weedy bloke pushing it... I will get them fixed/replaced this year - I'm hacked off with these shenanigans. Project Scope-Creep is underway... Alcester Racing 7's Equipe - 🙆🏻™ Alcester-Racing-Sevens.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mav Posted April 10, 2005 Share Posted April 10, 2005 Myles, I believe soneone has offered to assist you in repairing your current items - you just need to call them... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Myles Posted April 10, 2005 Author Share Posted April 10, 2005 Mav - I've been in touch with Norman before and during the w/e, thanks. It would have happened this weekend if I'd failed - but now the pressure is off, we'll wait until the weather improves a bit Project Scope-Creep is underway... Alcester Racing 7's Equipe - 🙆🏻™ Alcester-Racing-Sevens.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldbutnotslow Posted April 10, 2005 Share Posted April 10, 2005 Myles, I have the answer ..... see here 😬 😬 😬 Grant Black and stone chip and currently not going ☹️ Engine rebuilt (thanks oily!) and on the countdown to running again here Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JAG Posted April 11, 2005 Share Posted April 11, 2005 Myles; I'm glad to hear that you passed - and a little suprised When you decide to replace/repair these calipers get in touch. Justin A closed mouth gathers no foot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tigger Posted April 16, 2005 Share Posted April 16, 2005 Is there any mileage (or possibility) to strip down, clean, and re-assemble the calipers....? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now